Hope From Ashes

Read: Psalm 17; 1 Chronicles 21:1–17; 1 John 2:1–6

David is well-known as a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 16). God chose David to lead God’s people because God examined David’s heart (Psalm 17:3) and saw a moral character that would equip him to lead God’s people faithfully. Many of the Psalms give us a glimpse of David’s heart and his deep trust in God. Indeed, David shows great faithfulness as he begins to lead God’s people—his steps follow God’s path, and his actions heed God’s instructions (Psalm 17:5).

And, yet something changes from the day God calls David to leave his sheep to the day when David counts the Israelites (1 Chronicles 21:1). In ancient Israel, censuses have a specific purpose: assessing human resources for military preparations. They count only men old enough and capable enough to fight in military endeavors. When David counts the Israelites, God is displeased (1 Chronicles 21:7). Why? God sees this as a departure from the trust David showed in God when he faced Goliath (1 Samuel 17). While Saul and the Israelites feared the Philistines’ military prowess, David says “the LORD does not save by sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’s” (1 Samuel 17:47 NRSV). David knows that the success of a battle lies, not in the strength of weapons, but in God’s hands. So, when David orders the census, he is calculating his military strength as if that would determine the outcome of a battle—David’s trust in God has faltered.

How could David turn away from his trust in God? He has repeatedly shown steadfast faith, but even he can stumble. In 1 Chronicles 21:1, Satan persuades David away from his trust in God. Every human heart can falter—even David’s heart in which God saw exemplary character and faithfulness is not immune to the challenges of continuing to trust God.

In 1 Chronicles 21:8, David shows another aspect of his exceptional character: he admits he has sinned. God hears David, but that does not mean that David will suffer no consequences for his actions. Many Israelites become sick as a result of David’s sin, but God’s mercy stops the disease before it reaches Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 21:13–15). When David looks up, he sees the angel of the LORD standing between earth and heaven with a drawn sword. When seeing the power that lies with God, perhaps David remembers, like Joshua before him, that he should not ask if God is on his side, but if he is on God’s side (1 Chronicles 21:16; Joshua 5:13–15).

Prayer:

O Lord, You search and know every human heart. Help us look to You when we count our resources. Help us turn to You when we take stock of our strengths. Help us trust You when we are tempted to think our own power will bring us success. The success of our endeavors lies in Your hands. Amen.